Hotbox indicator



June 5, 1951 M. L. ROGERS 2,556,042

HOTBOX INDICATOR Filed May 24, 1947 /uyoA/fPasf/RS; INVENTOR BY naam/mg ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-lcs Horox INDICATOR Myron L. Rogers, Westville, Ind. Appiicauon'Mayai, 1947, serialivo; 750,324

2 claims; (o1. 11e- 1140 `My invention relates to improvements in hot box indicators for car axles, and it more especially relates to the structure described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The `.purpose of my invention is to provide a hot box indicator for the bearing journals of railway cars; Vthat will give visible indications; that will give an indication of an overheated journal through the presence of odors that are produced by the heat; that uses` conventional uze leads from different parts of the oil saturated Waste in the box;v that end s the fuzes in the shape of miniature anchors to insure that the end oi. a iuzewill not be detached from the wastethrough the vibrations of the journal box as the car passes over the rails; that will show the time that has elapsed after the heat has become critical through a separately supplied flame producing .agents within a metallic casing that is securedby weldingftothe top of the journal: box, or along its l.one side; and that through the use of different colored iiame ypowders a bluelamje indicates a live-minute period, a yellow ilame, a ten-minute period, and a red flame. indication, a twenty-minute period of overheated car axles.

With these and other related `ends in view illustrate in the accompanying drawing `such instances of adaptation as will show the cooperative structure without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a journal box with the indicator secured on the top of the box casing.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the indicator placed vertically on the side of the box.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but partly in section to show the terminal ends of the fuzes embedded in the oil impregnated waste.

Fig. 4 is an elevation on an enlarged scale of the indicator welded to the cover of the journal box.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the indicator casing, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of insertable glass bulbs.

In producing my hot box indicator I may vary its construction as demanded by the exigencies of varying conditions without departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

The indicator I is attached to the top of a journal box 2 as shown in Fig. l or secured on the side of the box as shown in Fig. 2. The indicator casing may be of any desired thickness of cast iron or other ferrous material. There is an opening through the top of the journal box which registers fvvithan opening i-nthexbot tom of the-indicator casing. These openings serveto lead in thefuzes 3 which are permanently held, in `the opening "by packing `with asbestos or otherwise. I

The fuzes 3 terminatein arrow or anchor heads '4. These heads are embedded in the .oil saturated Waste 2in engagement With-the car axle. The front face-` of the indicator Ais trans.- parent through the use of heat resisting glass 5. There is asmokeoutlet 1.

The Aeasing I of -the -indicatorl-encloses three compartments vseparated by paper partitions II thus producingY a `space 8 for-blue flame-producing powder anda space I0 -for a red llame,-

producing powder 9 for yellow powder or agent.`

The operation `of myA indicator is very simple.. Excessive heat produced bythe carjaxlein the journal box is transmitted through the fuzes .3 tothe inside of the indicator casing whereylth'e heat -is transferred to the flame-.producing agents,

To 'supplement .the Avisual indication through the use of name-producing means the smoke frornffthe burning powder passes out through Aan opening 1 to the loutside airwhere `the odor of ,the "smoke Iwill `also indicate the presence of a hot box.

The indicator is protected against all kinds of Weather. The glass front may be made removable in any desired manner. The opening through the journal box for the fuzes will be closed on its margins where the casing of the indicator is welded to it. The recurrence of hot journal boxes is more spectacular on long passenger trains and this traic, in the case of hot boxes, causes more damaging delays to large numbers of travelers than comparative damages in freight traffic.

The glass 5 may be easily removed through the formation of grooves I3 on the inside of the top and bottom portions of the casing I corresponding to rounded edges of the glass. Between the glass and the casing soft rubber I4 is used to seal the edges against rain.

t is of course understood that instead of the glass 5 any form of heat-resisting plastic or other material may be used.

The time limits of ve, ten and twenty minute periods for the duration of flame from the flame producing powders is of course variable and may be changed as desired.

The glass front 5 of Fig. 5 may be substituted by separate screw-in bulbs I5 suggested in Fig. 6.

flame producing YThe practical utility of 3 In order that the fuses 3 will be kept free from the rotating car axle, ring-type fuse holders I6 may be used where needed. The flat portion of these holders would be `welded to the inside of the casing I2 so as to always keep the fuses 3 out of contact with the axle.

serve an important Vutilitarian Vsafety' purpose.Y

These visu-al signals are a definite indication to railway operatives or even to casual observers that there exists adangerous condition. ri'he powder has been in existen-ce for the shortest period of time and that in the compartment 9 will indicate that the danger has existed for a longer time and the red signal in compartment I will indicate theilongest duration of the danger. The heat transference from compartment to compartment, also, traverses vthe metal walls of the container.

The conductor 3 will transfer the initial heat from compartment to compartment through theY wall'of the container I, thus serving as an alerting safety factor that comes into action automatically and by reason of the different time factors an observer will instantly know how serious the danger is. A single indicator would give no evidence whatever of how long the danger has existed. This is an important utility of great practical value.

If it should be Vfound desirable to standardise the relation of the flame producing Vpowders to each other and obviate the necessity of handling separate powders in the casing they may be assembled in a waterproof covered tube placed in the same -relation as the separate powders shown in the drawing on Fig. 4. In which case the same 'and identical results are produced in an adapted 'inv compartment 8 will indicate that the danger fuseerunit in the casing connected to the fuse 3, V

instead of the separate heat responsive powders shown in IFigure 5. In the event that the users may wish to standardise the use of the different ame producing powders they may be assembled as stated following the practice of a single color red fusee that is used in present day railway practice;

What I claim is: V

1. In journal box indicators a closed casing `having a restricted opening a transparentV weather-proofV cover along one side thereof for observation Within said casing, inflammable Vpartitions within the casing to divide it into cornpartments, separate time-consuming flame producing agents Vof diierent characteristics selectively arranged in said compartments, a car axle journal box, means for securing said casing to the box, a car axle terminating Within said box,

and a fuse means in operative contact with said box and reaching within said casing to ignite a selected oneof said agents when a predetermined temperature is reached in said journal box whereby a ame signal of successively distinguishing characteristics is emitted from said restricted opening.

2. In a car axle journal box, a car axle terminating within the box, oil impregnated'waste in saidbox and in engagement with the axle, a closedY :casing secured to the journal box having a re- Vstricted opening and containing a heat responsi-veV ame producing means and a heat transferring fuse having a portion thereof in operative relation to the waste in saidbox and another portion in operative relation to the'flame producing means in the casing. f f

MYRON L. ROGERS.

REFERENCES CITED l The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATEN'I'SV Y Y Number Name Date 521,919 Regan June 26, 1894 1,217,544 Willson Feb. 27, 1917 2,422,211 Reynolds June 17, 1947 

